Poker roguelike creator cites solitaire as major influence, claims it's at the pinnacle of gaming culture

Hey everyone, I just read something interesting about the game Balatro. The developer said that solitaire was a huge inspiration for their poker roguelike. They even went as far as saying solitaire is at the top of game culture. What do you guys think about this? Is solitaire really that influential in game design? I’m curious to hear your thoughts on how a simple card game could have such a big impact on modern game development. Have any of you played Balatro? How do you see the connection between it and solitaire?

solitaire’s impact is huge, no doubt. it’s like the OG of casual games. balatro dev might be exaggerating a bit tho. pinnacle of gaming? nah bro. but i can see how it influenced their game. simple mechanics, addictive gameplay - that’s solitaire’s legacy. gotta try balatro now, sounds intresting.

Yo, that’s a pretty wild claim about solitaire! :open_mouth: I mean, sure, it’s a classic, but the pinnacle of gaming culture? That’s a hot take if I’ve ever heard one!

I haven’t played Balatro yet, but now I’m kinda curious. Gotta admit, the idea of mashing up poker and roguelike elements sounds pretty dope. And if they’re taking cues from solitaire’s addictive simplicity, that could be a winning combo.

Thing is, solitaire’s definitely left its mark on gaming. It’s like the ultimate time-killer, right? Who hasn’t zoned out for hours moving cards around? :sweat_smile: I can see how its core loop of small, satisfying actions could inspire other games.

But calling it the pinnacle? Idk man, that feels like a stretch. Maybe the dev’s just trying to hype up their game? Either way, it’s got people talking, so mission accomplished I guess!

Anyone else think other classic games deserve more credit for influencing modern stuff? I’d love to hear what you all think!

interesting take from the balatro dev. solitaire’s influence on gaming is often overlooked, but it’s actually quite significant. think about it - millions of people play solitaire daily, even non-gamers. it’s simple yet addictive gameplay loop has certainly inspired many modern games, especially in the casual and mobile space.

i’ve played balatro and can definitely see the solitaire dna there. the way you manipulate cards and build strategies over time feels reminiscent of solitaire’s core mechanics, just with a roguelike twist.

while calling solitaire the pinnacle of gaming culture might be a stretch, its impact shouldnt be underestimated. it’s introduced countless people to digital gaming and its design principles still hold up today. balatro seems to be a clever evolution of those ideas.